Submerged turbine



April 2, 1929. A, g. ADAMS 1,707,381

SUBMERGED TURBINE yzfm vJZ,

" @Mira/Mm @Wamego April 2, 1929. A. J. ADAMS,4 l1,707,381

SUBMERGED TURBINE Filed June 16, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `-,Utu'lanSTATES latented Api--2, V192%?. y n' i 1 PATENT'ovF-FICE. i

ARTHUR J. ADAMS, or HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA.

. suBIIERGEn TURBINE. f

` Application mea June 1 6,

after describedand claimed, thek description being supplemented by theaccompanying drawing. l f i Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly insectionV of a turbine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly broken away and in horizontal section.

' Figs. 3 and 4 are detail elevations as indi'- cated by the lines 3 3and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing above brieliy described, the numeral 5 designates anydesired frame structure. Rotatably supported by this frame structure, inappropriate bearings 6 and 7, is a vertical shaft 8 carrying upper andlower hubs 9 and 10. A plurality of rectangular frames 11' are disposedin planes radiating from the shaft 8, andthe upper and lower corners ofsaid frames, that is the inner "cor ners thereof, are provided withextensionsv 12 and 13 which are secured to the hubs 9 and` 10, by bolts14 and 15. Each frame 11 is preferably provided with a-diagonal bracerod 16 and the several frames are tied in suitably spaced relation, byrods or the like 17 and 18.A

Any desired number of plates 19 are pivot#A ally hung in eachframe 11,between opposed side bars of the latter. At one side of the shaft 8,these plates always assume vertical positions as seen at the right ofFigs. 1 and -2 and in Fig. 4, so that the flowing water (indicated bythe arrows A) will force against these plates and rotate theV wheelstructure formed by the frames 11 and associated parts. As the platesreach positions at the opposite -side of the shaft 8, however, theyswingto horizontal positions vas seeny at the left v*of Figs. 1 and 2,and in Fig. 3, and hence they will merely cut through the water, withouty, appreciable resistance.

Preferably, the upper edge of each plate 19 is provided with a tubularbead 20 and the opposite edge is formed with a similar bead 21. Rods 22and 23 pass through thesebeads and project beyond them, the projectingends of each rod 22, passing through openings in side bars of the frame11, so as to pivotally i927. sensu-N0.199,338,l l D ,n mountl the plate19. 4 lThe`projecting endsfof the rod 23 however, constitutestops whichare adapted to strike the aforesaid frame bars 'to limit the movement oftheplate 19 when it` reaches its 'vertical position.l Iny addition toperforming the functions of pivotally mounting the plates and acting asmovement limiting stops, it vwill be understood that Vthe rods 22 and 23also serve as effective stifeners for the plates, permitting the use ofthin sheet metal in the construction of the latter; l

If desired, power may betaken ldirectly from the shaft '8. In thepresent showinfg t however, I have disclosed a counter-sha V24 providedwith a pulley 25, and a suitable belt 26 isv engaged with` this pulleyand trained around the upper portion of the wheel structure. Suitableguides, such as those indicated at 27 maybe provided on the frames 11',for the belt 26." Due to the relative sizes of the 'wheel structureformed by the 4frames 11 and associated parts, and the pulley 25, thelatterv 'and its shaft 24 will of course be rapidly driven, even thoughthe aforesaid wheel structure may rotate slowly.

l As excellent `results are obtainable fromV the general constructionherein disclosed, it

may well be followed. However, within the p 'scope of 'the invention asclaimed, variations may of course be made;

I claim z- 1. A submergedv turbine i comprising aV shaft, a pluralityofrectangular lframes disposed in planes radiating from said shaft andconnected with the-latter to provide a wheel, a plurality of platesbetween opposed side bars of said frames and pivoted to said bars, saidvplates being movable to vertical positions at one side of the shaft andto horizontal positions at the other side thereof, whereby the platesmay receive the pressure of the water current at said one side of theshaft but must cut through the waterl at said other side thereof, theplates being formedof sheet metal with tubular beads lalong yparalleledges, the pivot of each plate being formed of a vrod passing throughone bead thereof, the movement limiting means for each plate consistingof a secondrod passing through the other. bead and projecting therefromto strike said bars. f Y

. `2. A submerged turbine comprising a shaft, a'plurality of rectangularframe disposed in planes radiating fromsaid shaft and connected with thelatter to provide a wheel, a plurality of plates between opposed sidebars of said frame and pivoted to said bars, said plates being movableto vertical positions at one side of the shaft and to hori- Zontalpositions et the other side thereof, whereby the plates may receive thepressure of the Water current at said one side of the shaft but must eutthrough the water at said Y otherside thereof, upper `and lower rodssecured respectively to the upper and lower edges of saidplates, theVends of said rods projecting beyond the side edges of the plates,

the projecting ends of said upper rods passing through openings :in .theside barsof the frame whereby the plates are pivotally supported, theprojecting ends of said lower bars being adapted te strike the side'barsof the frame thereby forming stops to limit trie pivotal movement oftheplates in one direetion.

In testimonyV whereof I have hereunto 20-

